Service tap tool

ABSTRACT

A boring bar for making a hot tap in a plastic main and locking arms for securing the device behind the shoulder of a coupling are coordinated so that the boring bar can only move longitudinally when the locking arms are in position behind the coupling and the locking arms cannot be rotated from their locked position unless the boring bar is in a predetermined longitudinal position. The body is adapted to be received in the bore of a coupling and to seal the bore with an O-ring. Air admitted through the body forces the locking arms into tight engagement with the shoulder of the coupling by forcing the body and its carried locking arms longitudinally in a direction away from the shoulder. A hot tap is made by a shell cutter on the boring bar.

[ 1 Sept. 4, 1973 United States Patent 91 Hutton 1 1 SERVICE TAP TOOL[76] lnventor: Walter C. Hutton, PO. Box 158, Primary Examiner-AlanCohan Hesperia, Calif. 92345 Mar. 3, 1972 Attorney-Robert L. Parker, E.Roderick Cline et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A boring bar for making a hot tap in a plastic main and[22] Filed:

d to seal the bore with an O-ring. Air

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References Cited tight engagement with the shoulder of the coupling byforcing the body and its carried locking arms longitudi- UNITED STATESPATENTS nally in a direction away from the shoulder. A hot tap 12/1878is made by a shell cutter on the boring bar.

210,706 Penney 3,516,426 6/1970 T01l........ 3,460,721

13 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTED SE? 4 I975 SHEET 1 OF SERVICE TAPTOOL CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION The present application is acontinuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 84,784, filed Oct. 28, 1970now U.S. Pat. No. 3,646,954 issued Mar. 7, 1972.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION supplying fluids under pressure, forexample, natural gas.

It is often necessary to make a branch connection from a main to providea new service outlet. Obviously, it is impractical, in many instances,to turn off the gas supply in the main in order to establish a servicebranch connection.

As a consequence it has become established practice to make what isknown as a hot tap" of the main. This means that a hole in the main ismade while a main contains gas under pressure. Obviously the tools usedto make hot taps must not allow gas to escape to atmosphere. It ishighly beneficial, if not mandatory, that the tools used to make a hottap be uncomplicated, require a minimum amount of skill in their use,and be reasonably economical.

The service tap tool disclosed in the parent patent applicationreferenced above satisfies the dictates of being simple, easy and quickto operate, and reasonably cheap to produce.

It is desirable, however, to coordinate the position of the boring barand the locking arms such that the boring bar cannot move longitudinallyuntil the locking arms are in position with their locking flanges behindthe inner shoulder of the coupling. In addition, it is highly desirablenot to have the locking armsrotate out of their locking position untilthe boring bar is completely free of the hol'e it has made.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an improved hottapping tool which positively prevents its boring bar from moving withrespect to its body until its locking arms are in position to engage thecoupling of a branch connection and, moreover, to prevent disengagementof the locking arms from the coupling until the boring bar is in apredetermined longitudinal position.

A generalized form of the present invention envisions a body whichreceives a boring bar and at least one locking arm adapted to be placedin position behind an interior shoulder of a coupling on a branchconnection. The boring bar carries means for cutting a hole in the mainfrom which the branch connection emanates.

The locking arms and the boring bar are coordinated by means such thatthe locking arms cannot be rotated unless the boring bar is in thepredetermined longitudinal location. In addition, when in thatpredetermined longitudinal location and upon rotation of the lockingarms from their in-use position, the boring bar is incapable of movinglongitudinally. Thus, operation of the service tap tool of the presentinvention is impossible unless the locking arms are in proper position,for if they are not in the proper position, the boring bar is incapableof sliding longitudinally with respect to the body. In addition, oncelongitudinal movement of the boring bar is initiated, it is impossibleto rotate the locking arms out of position from behind the shoulder ofthe coupling. Consequently, there is no risk that the service tap toolwill leave the coupling under pressure from gas entering the couplingfrom the main, once a tap has been made.

Preferably, means are provided on the body to insure a seal with thewall of the bore of the coupling. These means may include an O-ring.

The preferred means of coordinating the locking arms and theboring baris to provide an annular groove in the boring bar at a predeterminedlocation, and a cross pin for the locking arm which is received in thisannular groove. A notch in the cross pin, when oriented parallel to theaxis of the boring bar and facing the boring bar, permits longitudinalmovement of the boring bar. The cross pin carries the locking arms.

Means are preferably provided to admit air into the space within thecoupling between the body and the main for seating the tool, with thelocking arms in firm gripping engagement with the interior shoulder ofthe coupling. It is also preferred to have locking flanges for thelocking arms with wedge-like leading faces to grip the surface of anipple on which the coupling is attached and to provide maximum surfaceengagement between the locking flanges and the coupling.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent from the following description,appended claims and drawlngs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partlybroken away, of a preferred embodiment of the service tap tool of thepresent invention, showing its application with a coupling in thenipple, the latter combination being shown in phantom;

FIG. 2 is anelevational, fragmentary view, mostly in half section,showing the preferred interlock between the boring bar and the lockingarms of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a plan, partly in section and fragmentary view, with thesection plane being parallel to and including the longitudinal axis ofthe cross pin, as shown in general by the lines 3-3 in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Before a. detailed descriptionof the service tap tool of the present invention is undertaken, a briefbackground description of the service tap tool and its function may behelpful. The service tap tool of the type germane here is adapted to tapa main carrying gas under pressure through a branch connectionpreviously attached to the main. The branch connection, for its part, isconstituted of a nipple and a coupling. The nipple is attached to themain, typically through a saddle. After these three units are attachedtogether and to the main, it is necessary to tap a hole in the main toeffect the completion of the branch connection. The service tap tooltaps this hole. After a hole is efiected, the boring bar of the servicetap tool is withdrawn at predetermined distance and the nipple ispinched off to prevent gas from escaping until the balance of the branchconnection is effected.

It will be appreciated that it is necessary to maintain the tool inproper position during effecting of a tap in the main to prevent gasleaking from the freshly tapped hole through the nipple and thecoupling, and to prevent gas pressure from the main forcing the servicetap tool out of its proper position. The present invention provides avery simple means for effecting these two goals. As previouslymentioned, these means prevent movement of the boring bar until thelocking arms are in proper position behind the interior shoulder of thecoupling, and, once longitudinal movement of the boring bar has beenaccomplished, prevents removal of the locking arms from behind theshoulder of the coupling until the boring bar is returned to apredetermined position with respect to the locking arms.

FIG. 1 illustrates in general the combination of the present inventionas it is being employed in the tapping of a main. The service tap toolis indicated in general by reference numeral 10. A longitudinallyslidable boring bar 12 is received in a body 14 for longitudinalmovement with respect to the body. Means to effect a hole in a main areprovided at one end of the boring bar. Such means may include a shellcutter 16 of the type illustrated specifically in the Figure. Means,such as a wrenching nut 18, are provided for rotating or turning theboring bar to operate the shell cutter. A pair of rotatable locking arms20 and 22 are carried by the body through a cross pin 24. Each lockingarm has a locking flange. These flanges are indicated at 26 and 28 forlocking arms 20 and 22, respectively. The flanges face the longitudinalaxis of the boring bar. Each locking flange 26 and locking flange 28 hasa wedge-shaped leading face 30 and 32, respectively, to effect contactwith the surface of the nipple which connects the coupling to the main.In FIG. 1 a coupling and a nipple are shown in phantom and are indicatedby reference numerals 34 and 36, respectively. Each locking flange hasan interior face for engaging an interior shoulder 38 of the coupling.,An 0- ring 40 on body 14 provides a seal between the wall of thecoupling and the outside longitudinal surface of the body against gasleaking out of the coupling between these two surfaces.

The shell cutter is secured to the boring bar as by threads and islocked in position as by a hex head nut 42. The means for rotating theboring bar, as previously mentioned, includes a wrenching nut 18threaded onto the end of the boring bar opposite the shell cutter.Conveniently, a knob 44 may be used for effecting longitudinal movementof the boring bar, and some rotational movement without the aid of awrench as well.

' With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the interlockingmeans of the presentinvention is illustrated in detail.

Boring bar 12 has an annular groove 46 disposed at a predeterminedlongitudinal location. The location of the annular groove corresponds toa distance from the end of the shell cutter that provides for thespacing of the shell cutter from the main well within the, nipple. Crosspin 24 is received in the boring bar annular groove and normally blockslongitudinal movement of the boring bar by interference with it. Anotched groove 48 in the cross pin, however, when in register with theboring bar allows for longitudinal movement of the boring bar androtation of the locking arms. The notched groove is shown in register inFIG. 2. When the notched groove of the cross pin is out of register withthe boring bar, longitudinal movement of the boring bar is impossible,but rotational movement of the locking arms is possible. Once, however,the annular groove of the boring bar passes to one side or the other ofthe cross pin with longitudinal movement of the boring bar, rotation ofthe locking arms is impossible. Thus during the making of a tap in amain, which would correspond to a position of the boring bar with theannular groove out of register with the cross pin, it would beimpossible to rotate the locking arms from behind the interior shoulderof the coupling, and thus the tool is always securely in place againstthe force of pressure from the main. The boring bar must also bewithdrawn from its boring position until annular groove 46 of the boringbar is in register with cross pin 24. With this registration the lockingarms can be rotated out from behind the interior shoulder of thecoupling for the removal of the tool. This insures that the shell cutteris removed from the main before an attempt is made to remove the tool.

As is illustrated in FIG. 3, each of locking arms 20 and 22 is securedto cross pin 24 through roll pins 50 and 52, respectively which arereceived in drilled holes in the cross pin and the locking arms. Thecross pin is received in a pair of bushings 54 and 56, which have acurved exterior profile to conform to the cylindrical curvature of body14. O-rings 58 and 60 in the body and interiorly of the bushings preventgas from escaping out the service tap tool from the main through thebore in the body which receives the cross pin.

7 With 'reTe'r'efiEe tKFIG: 2, art (firing 62 is provided in body 14 tothe rear of cross pin 24 to prevent gas leaking through the bore whichreceives the boring bar and out the back of the body.

A longitudinal passage 64 extends from the front face of the body adistance towards the rear of the body and meets a cross passage 66. Astandard air valve 68 is threadedly received in this cross bore andserves the function of pressurizing the coupling and nipple to force theseating of the tool firmly against the interior shoulder of the couplingprior to the cutting of a hole in the main.

In assembling the service tap tool of the present invention, boring bar12 is placed in the longitudinal bore of body 14, with annular groove 46of the boring bar and the face of the bodywhich faces the interior of acoupling being on the same side of the body. The body is then positionedwith respect to the boring bar such that the cross pin can be placed inthe body, that is, the bore for the cross pin and the annular groove ofthe boring bar are aligned. The cross pin is then inserted. The crosspin is positioned such that its. notch 48 will allow longitudinalmovement of the boring bar. Bushings 54 and 56 are then inserted in thebody. Locking arms 20 and 22 are then installed on the cross pin withthe locking flanges oriented in their in-use position illustrated inFIG. 1, that is, in position for the locking flanges to fall in behindthe shoulder of a couplingwith the faces of the locking flanges orientedin wedge-like fashion for maximum contact of the interior shoulder ofthe coupling and forengagement of the nipple. So oriented, the lockingarms and cross shaft are drilled for receipt of roll pins 50 and 52 andthe roll pins installed.

The use of the service tap tool of the present invention has previouslybeen described so this description will be limited. When a tap is to bemade in a main, an-

nular groove 46 and cross pin 24 are brought into register or alignmentso that locking arms and 22 can be rotated for clearing the coupling ofthe branch connection. Boring bar 12 cannot be moved longitudinally withthe locking arms rotated out of their in-use position. The service taptool is then inserted into the branch connection, with the body of thetool within the bore of the coupling and the annular O-ring on theexterior surface of the body in sealing engagement with the bore of thecoupling. The locking arms are then rotated such that their lockingflanges fall in behind the interior shoulder of the coupling. Air isthen admitted through air valve 68 into the coupling and nipple tofirmly seat the tool with the locking flanges in tight engagement withthe shoulder of the coupling. In position behind the coupling, theboring bar is free to move longitudinally and can also be rotated. A tapcan then be made. After a tap is made the boring bar is brought backinto position with annular groove 46 in register with cross pin 24. Thispermits the pinching off of the nipple to prevent gas escape. Ifdesired, air valve 68 can bleed the gas from the interior of thecoupling between the pinch-off and the body of the service tap tool.Locking arms 20 and 22 are then rotated to clear the interior of theshoulder and the tool is withdrawn.

The present invention has been described with reference to acertainpreferred embodiment. The spirit and scope of the present claims'shouldnot, however, necessarily be limited to the foregoing description.

What is claimed is:

1. A service tap. tool for making a tap of a main through a branchconnection comprising:

a. a body adapted to be received in the bore of a coupling of the branchconnection; g

b. means for effecting a pressure tight seal between the body and thewall of the coupling's bore;

c. a boring bar received by the body for longitudinal movement withrespect thereto along the axis of the body;

d. means on the boring bar for effecting a hole in the main;

e. at least one locking arm having means for engaging an interiorshoulder of the coupling, the locking arm being rotatably mounted on thebody for rotation into and out of engagement with the interior shoulderof the coupling;

f. means for preventing longitudinal movement of the boring bar withrespect to the body when the locking flanges of the locking arm are outof position to engage the interior shoulder of the coupling and toprevent rotation of the locking arms when the boring bar is movedlongitudinally after the locking arms are in position to engage theinterior shoulder of the coupling.

2. The service tap tool claimed in claim 1 wherein the preventing ineans includes:

a. an annular groove in the boring bar at a predetermined longitudinalposition corresponding to a position where the cutting means iswithdrawn from the main;

b. a cross pin received by the body and, in the prede termined position,of the boring bar, in the annular groove of the boring bar; and

c. a notch in the cross pin for permitting longitudinal movement of theboring bar when the notch faces the boring bar and is parallel to thelongitudinal axis thereof, the locking arm being secured to the crosspin and carried thereby such that rotation of the locking arm with itsaxes paralleling the axis of the boring bar orients the notch in thecross pin to permit longitudinal movement of the boring bar.

3. The service tap tool claimed in claim 2 wherein at least two lockingarms are provided, each being carried by the cross pin.

4. The service tap tool claimed. in claim 3 wherein each locking arm hasa wedge-shaped face oriented to engage the exterior surface of a nippleof the branch connection while at the same time engaging the interiorshoulder of the coupling and to prevent rotation of the locking armspast their proper in-use position.

5. The service tap tool claimed in claim 4 wherein the cross pin isoriented along an axis normal to the longitudinal axis of the boring barand spaced from that axis.

6. (amended) The service tap tool claimed in claim 4 [included] whereinthe body has a longitudinal bore, the boring bar being received in thelongitudinal bore, and a cross bore, the cross pin being received in thecross bore, and including:

means to prevent gas from leaking through the bore which receives theboring bar; and

means for preventing gas leakage through the bore which receives thecross pin.

7. The service tap tool claimed in claim 6 including means for admittingair under pressure into the coupling, such means being carried by thebody.

8. The service tap tool claimed in claim 7 wherein the cross pin isoriented along an axis normal to the longitudinal axis of the boring barand spaced from that axis.

9. An improvementin a service tap tool for making hot taps in a mainhaving a fluid under pressure through a branch connection assemblyaffixed to the main, the branch connection assembly including a couplingand a nipple, the nipple being between the main and the coupling, thecoupling having an interior shoulder facing the main, the service taptool being of the type which has a body portion adapted to be receivedin the bore of the coupling and to effect a seal against gas passingfrom the coupling along the interface between the body and the bore ofthe coupling, at least one locking arm having a locking flange adaptedto be positioned behind the interior shoulder of the coupling to preventthe service tap tool from being forced from the coupling by gaspressure, a boring bar received by the body" for longitudinal movementwith respect thereto and'having means for effecting a hole in the main,the

improvement which comprises:

a. an annular groove in the boring bar at a predetermined longitudinallocation, which predetermined longitudinal location corresponds to alocation wherein the cutting means is removed from the main;

b. a cross pin carrying the locking arm and received by the annulargroove of the boring bar when the boring bar is in the predeterminedlocation to prevent the boring bar from moving longitudinally; and

c. a notch in the cross pin positioned to face the boring bar when thelocking arm is in position behind the coupling to permit longitudinalmovement of the boring bar with respect to the body.

10. The improved service tap tool claimed in claim 9 wherein at leasttwo of the locking arms are provided,

the locking armsbeing placed symmetrically on each 11 wherein thelongitudinal axis of the cross pin is at a right angle to the axis ofthe boring bar and is offset therefrom.

13. The improved service tap tool claimed in claim 12 including meansfor admitting air under pressure into the coupling to set the tool inthe branch connection assembly.

Po-w5o UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE i 6 CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PatentNo. 1 3,756,267 Dated 7 September 4 1973 k waltei- C. Hutton It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the claims Claim 6, colum 6*, line 17 delete "(amended)"; oolumn 6,line 18, delete "[inc1uded]".

Signed and sealed this 29th day of January'l97LL.

(SEAL) Attest: EDWARD M.FLETOHEE,JR. RENE D. T'EGTMEYER' AttestingOfficer 7 Acting Commissioner of Patents

1. A service tap tool for making a tap of a main through a branchconnection comprising: a. a body adapted to be received in the bore of acoupling of the branch connection; b. means for effecting a pressuretight seal between the body and the wall of the coupling''s bore; c. aboring bar received by the body for longitudinal movement with respectthereto along the axis of the body; d. means on the boring bar foreffecting a hole in the main; e. at least one locking arm having meansfor engaging an interior shoulder of the coupling, the locking arm beingrotatably mounted on the body for rotation into and out of engagementwith the interior shoulder of the coupling; f. means for preventinglongitudinal movement of the boring bar with respect to the body whenthe locking flanges of the locking arm are out of position to engage theinterior shoulder of the coupling and to prevent rotation of the lockingarms when the boring bar is moved longitudinally after the locking armsare in position to engage the interior shoulder of the coupling.
 2. Theservice tap tool claimed in claim 1 wherein the means includes: a. anannular groove in the boring bar at a predetermined longitudinalposition corresponding to a position where the cutting means iswithdrawn from the main; b. a cross pin received by the body and, in thepredetermined position of the boring bar, in the annular groove of theboring bar; and c. a notch in the cross pin for permitting longitudinalmovement of the boring bar when the notch faces the boring bar and isparallel to the longitudinal axis thereof, the locking arm being securedto the cross pin and carried thereby such that rotation of the lockingarm with its axes paralleling the axis of the boring bar orients thenotch in the cross pin to permit longitudinal movement of the boringbar.
 3. The service tap tool claimed in claim 2 wherein at least twolocking arms are provided, each being carried by the cross pin.
 4. Theservice tap tool claimed in claim 3 wherein each locking arm has awedge-shaped face oriented to engage the exterior surface of a nipple ofthe branch connection while at the same time engaging the interiorshoulder of the coupling and to prevent rotation of the locking armspast their proper in-use position.
 5. The service tap tool claimed inclaim 4 wherein the cross pin is oriented along an axis normal to thelongitudinal axis of the boring bar and spaced from that axis.
 6. Theservice tap tool claimed in claim 4 including: means to prevent gas fromleaking through the bore which receives the boring bar; and means forpreventing gas leakage through the bore which receives the cross pin. 7.The service tap tool claimed in claim 6 including means for admittingair under pressure into the coupling, such means being carried by thebody.
 8. The service tap tool claimed in claim 7 wherein the cross pinis oriented along an axis normal to the longitudinal axis of the boringbar and spaced from that axis.
 9. An improved service tap tool formaking hot taps in a main having a fluid under pressure through a branchconnection assembly affixed to the main, the branch connection assemblyincluding a coupling and a nipple, the nipple being between the main andthe coupling, the coupling having an interior shoulder facing the main,the service tap tool being of the type which has a body portion adaptedto be received in the bore of the coupling and to effect a seal againstgas passing from the coupling along the interface between the body andthe bore of the coupling, at least one locking arm having a lockingflange adapted to be positioned bEhind the interior shoulder of thecoupling to prevent the service tap tool from being forced from thecoupling by gas pressure, a boring bar received by the body forlongitudinal movement with respect thereto and having means foreffecting a hole in the main, an improvement which comprises: a. anannular groove in the boring bar at a predetermined longitudinallocation thereof, which predetermined longitudinal location correspondsto a location wherein the cutting means is removed from the main; b. across pin carrying the locking arm and received by the annular groove ofthe boring bar when the boring bar is in the predetermined location toprevent the boring bar from moving longitudinally; and c. a notch in thecross pin positioned to face the boring bar when the locking arm is inposition behind the coupling to permit longitudinal movement of theboring bar with respect to the body.
 10. The improved service tap toolclaimed in claim 9 wherein at least two of the locking arms areprovided, the locking arms being placed symmetrically on each side ofthe longitudinal axis of the boring bar.
 11. The improved service taptool claimed in claim 10 wherein each locking flange has a wedge-shapedface facing the longitudinal axis of the boring bar and oriented suchthat when the locking arms are in position behind the interior shoulderof a coupling the wedge-shaped faces rest against the nipple to preventrotation of the locking arms past the nipple.
 12. The improved servicetap tool claimed in claim 11 wherein the longitudinal axis of the crosspin is at a right angle to the axis of the boring bar and is offsettherefrom.
 13. The improved service tap tool claimed in claim 12including means for admitting air under pressure into the coupling toset the tool in the branch connection assembly.